Mayor Soglin's Blog

Credit Goes To Bud Selig

Sunday I took Natasha and Alex to the Brewers game. This is America. Dad, two of his daughters and a fun baseball team.

As we took our seats in the last row of our section, there in the skybox next to us was University of Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez and Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.

Before I could walk over to say hello, Bud Selig had gone inside to greet some friends so Barry and I chatted about Saturday's convincing win over Nebraska. I mumbled something to the Athletic Director about character and the fact that this Wisconsin team was more than athletic - they are bright, perseverant, patient and thoughtful. As though Alvarez didn't already know that.

The game was great. It was close at first. Ryan Braun continued to prove that he has character and as a Brewers fan, it was fun to watch the Diamondback's wheels come off.

It was an incredibly well played game. The Brewers have a healthy attitude and they have matured into players who know how to have fun without embarrassing themselves.

From the fourth inning on, with each pitch and each at bat I thought about Selig, wondering how he was feeling. I have not been generous with Selig both as owner and commissioner. I took exception to inter- league play, to halting the 2002 All-Star game when it was tied in extra innings, as well as to the flashing lights and artificial noise at Miller Park.

As the Brewers batted around in the sixth inning, I was thinking that a large part of this is Selig's team. Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder, Cory Hart, and YovaniGallardo are all a credit to the team Selig built.

When Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt struck out swinging to end the game and we all filed out, Selig stood alone surveying the field. I reached out, shook Bud's hand and simply said, "Congratulations."